We have an 1810 New England Colonial House in Central Massachusetts which needs repainting. The exterior is wooden clapboards with hanging wooden screens (summer) and hanging wooden storm windows (winter). The body of the house is white with black trim for the screens/storms.
The exterior is basically sound with some peeling paint, mildewed paint where shadowed by a large pine tree, and cracking paint from, in my opinion, many layers of previous paint. The pine tree is scheduled to be taken down this summer.
My questions are: 1) is there a “best” exterior brand of latex acrylic paint and primer for antique houses?, 2) with lead-based paint almost a surety, can I safely remove the existing layers of paint?, 3)if I remove the paint to bare wood, any recommendations on “how to”? I looked into paint shavers which appear to be a good product.
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I don't know your capabilities but whole-house paint removal of this type (using Metabo, Paint Shaver, etc.) is not generally a one-person or DIY project. These machines take practice, and leave a fair amount of paint behind (the Metabo gets closer to corner boards, etc.). You will likely find some carpentry/rot repairs necessary too.
Some favorite materials (click for links): Flex Tech HV for epoxy repairs, White Lightning 50-year caulk, Crawford's Putty, (another brand in black/orange can - can't think of name), Val-Spar Prep-step primer, Sherwin Williams Paint, Benjamin Moore Paints, Penetrol additive (for oil), Floetrol additive (for latex), mildewcide additive, Purdy and E & J brushes.
T. Jeffery Clarke
The other putty Jeff might be thinking of is Durham's Rock Hard Water Putty. I'd second Jeff's recomendations. My own preference on older homes is oil/alkyds, at least for the primer coat. Latex/acrylics are much improved but imho an oil/alkyd makes a better primer coat on old wood.
Nope - It was MH Ready Patch. Shrinks a fair bit but a good product.T. Jeffery Clarke
Quidvis Recte Factum Quamvis Humile Praeclarum
What the Metabo won't get, a Sandvik carbide scraper and some elbow grease will.